Container for preserving animal life



Feb. 2, 1002.

1" W 0. F. KNOERNSCHHLD 1,400,503

CONTAINER FOR PRESERVING ANIMAL LIFE Filed Oct. 19, 1927 H J 1 8 00 00 0000000 U Patented Feb. 2, 1932 PATENT OFFICE GROVEB I. KNOERNSCHILD, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CONTAINER FOR PRESERVING ANIMAL LIFE Application filed October 19, 1927. Serial No. 227,180.

My invention relates to vessels or containers made of fibrous. or pulp material adapted to contain fluid therein, and more particularly to a container of this type which can be adapted for use for the preservation of animal life, or the like, wherein it is desirable to preserve life within the container.

An object of my invention is to incorporate in the fiber, or pulp, an ingredient which I have found renders the fiber or pulp waterproof or impervious to water, yet pervious to air, thereby particularly adapting this material to the preservation of animal life.

Heretofore in the art, considerable difiiculty has been experienced in maintaining life in a container, such as for instance, minnows, in an ordinary bucket. I have observed, for example, that death of minnows or fish has been due chiefly to suffocation.

29 Air cannot pass through the walls, and hence, after the oxygen in the water is consumed, it is rarely possible to keep minnows alive unless fresh water is provided, although the cover of the container may remain removed.

By my invention, a simple and inexpensive t f fib or 111 mabe rovided P con amer 0 er p p y p I find that any suitable material may be used within a metal bucket, so that air may readily permeate through the walls to provide a constantly fresh supply of air to life in the container.

Although others may have suggested waterproofing fiber, yet I believe that I am the first to propose the use of a waterproofing ingredient in the fibrous composition which does not destroy the free passage of air therethrough for the preservation of life.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical sectional View of the inner container; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 2.

By referring to the drawings, it, will be 59 obvious to those skilled in the art that my container or bucket 2 provided with a handle 4. Disposed within the metal bucket 2 is a container 5. The vertical wall 6 of container 5 is arranged in spaced relation to the vertical wall of bucket 2. A circumferential band 7, preferably of metal, is secured to the upper end of container 5. A top plate 9 is suitably secured to band7, and is arranged to extend inwardly and downwardly into the top of container 5, terminating in a fiat portion 10 having a central opening 11. A cover 12 is adapted to seat in opening 11 and held therein .by the usual locking fixtures 13 and 14.

Container 5 is preferably of a fibrous composition, such for instance, as laminated cellulose. I contemplate embodying in the fibrous composition a waterproofing ingredient, which renders the fiber impervious to water, but which, at the same time, does not revent the free passage of air therethrough.

as such ingredient and preferably contemplate mixing such material with the pulp before the containers are formed. Many materials may be used for this purpose, such as rosin, starch, etc. These materials properly applied have a peculiar characteristic of waterproofing fibrous pulp without reacting to prevent the passage of air through the pores of the fiber. Experiments have proved that minnows, for instance,.may be kept alive in water in a container of fibrous composition treated with such materials for an indefinite period without dying.

Cover plate 9 projects a suitable distance from the wall 6 of container 5 to serve as spacing means whereby to center the con tainer and maintain it in spaced relation in bucket 2. The walls of bucket 2 areperforated, as indicated at 18 and 19, to allow free circulation of air in the space between the bucket and the container. It is this air which may permeate the wall 6 of container 5 and pass therethrough into the liquid in the container. It will be understood, of course, that bucket 2 thereof may be of mesh material, such as a screen wire, or any suitable protector for container 5 which allows passage of air therethrough.

As hereinbefore mentioned, rosin, arafiin, starch, etc., have the characteristic 0 waterproofing fibrous pulp without hindering the free passage of air therethrough. So far as I know, such materials are many of the waterproofing substances which w1ll accomplish this result, but notwithstanding, I consider it within the scope of the present invention to use ingredients other than those mentioned, inasmuch as I believe that I am first to suggest rendering such containers of fibrous composition impervious to water, but pervious to air when properly applied.

As an illustration of such proper application, I might suggest applying these materials to the fibrous composition so as not to close the pores of thelaminated fiber to prevent the air from permeating the same.

Cover plate 9 may be secured to the top of container 5 in any suitable fashion. It may be fixed to the upper edge of band 7 and held to the inside of the upper edge of container 5 by a composite seal 20.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adopt the same for use under varying conditions of service without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A container having its walls of material which is pervious to air but impervious to Water.

2. A container having its walls of a fibrous composition which includes a waterproofing ingredient permitting the passage of air through the fiber.

3. A minnow container of waterproof material which is pervious to air.

4. In combination with a minnow bucket, of a liquid container therein having its walls spaced from the walls of said bucket, the walls of said bucket being perforated to permit the circulation of air between the container and the bucket, the walls of said container being pervious to air to permit the passage of air into the interior of the container and into the liquid therein.

5. A fibrous container for preserving animal life including an ingredient rendering the fibre impervious to water and pervious to air.

I In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GRO-VER F. KNOERNSCI-IILD. v 

